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Infiniti and its parent company Nissan dove headfirst into the most competitive SUV market with completely redesigned versions of the three-row new Infiniti QX60 and the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. They both share the same underpinnings but drive out of the factory as two different SUVs. A $49,000 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum can come close to the QX60 in luxury, but is it worth it to pay the premium for the Infiniti?

A Nissan Pathfinder Platinum can cost more than a new Infiniti QX60

A red Nissan Pathfinder in the desert

The luxury version of the two SUVs, the new Infiniti QX60, starts at $46,850 for the Pure trim. Add $2,000 to get all-wheel drive. The Luxe, Sensory and Autograph trims round out the lineup. The Autograph AWD is the most expensive, topping out at $63,250. The Luxe and Sensory models bring on options like a 12-3-inch display and Infiniti’s ProPILOT ASSIST driver’s aid software that has traffic sign recognition and lane departure prevention.

The two-wheel drive Pathfinder S starts at $34,640 and all-wheel drive is a $2,000 option. The SV trim adds ProPILOT Assist and more for $37,460, while the $40,540 SL adds heated seats and leather in the first and second rows. The top trim, the Nissan Pathfinder Platinum, is $49,040 and adds fold-down second row captain’s chairs, more leather, and a 12.3-inch digital dashboard. The Pathfinder can seat up to eight people.

For 2022 the Nissan Pathfinder brought back off-road looks

The 2022 Pathfinder looks the part and for 2023, there’s a new off-road version. It has a 360-degree camera that helps you navigate narrow trails and a seven-mode Terrain Mode Selector for the four-wheel drive that uses a new direct coupling between the engine and wheels. Basically, it puts the power down better. It also upped its utility quotient with 6,000 pounds of towing capacity, which is more than enough for a small trailer. The Pathfinder’s V6 makes 284 horsepower with a nine-speed transmission.  

The new Infiniti QX60 leans higher into on-road comfort, utility, and safety. All QX60s get heated, wight-way, front seats and with memory, rear seats with one-touch folding, and several USB ports. In the higher-priced trims, you can get a motion-activated power liftgate, more leather and better stereos. It, too, can tow 6,000 pounds. The Infiniti’s 3.5-liter V6 makes 295 horsepower with a nine-speed automatic.

The 2022 refresh worked for Nissan and Infiniti

The refresh must be working. So far this year the new Infiniti QX60 is Infiniti’s most successful SUV, and it has sold 5,700 this year, according to Nissan. Of course, the company sold 24,000 Nissan Pathfinders during the same time. It’s now ready to take on the midsize SUV competition.

Nissan reports that sales for the Pathfinder are up 79.1% year over year. It’s easy to see why the redesign is taking off. The old one looked, well, boring and like a car on stilts. The new Pathfinder returns to looking like it can go off-road with a much more purposeful, and dare we say, Ford Explorer look to it.

QX60 vs. Nissan Pathfinder: Which is more reliable?

2022 Infiniti QX60 Consumer Reports
2022 Infiniti QX60 | Infiniti

Consumer Reports does not recommend the Pathfinder or the QX60, and they are both rated similarly. But at RepairPal, which tracks vehicle repairs ranks the QX60 second in its list of 19 luxury full-size SUV. The Pathfinder, however, ranked above average but only 17th of 26 midsize SUVs.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.